Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 5 Quentin Tarantino/Smashing Pumpkins

Quentin Tarantino brings his unique brand of filmmaking to Saturday Night Live, joining the likes of other famous directors who have hosted the show. The fifth episode of season 21 features Tarantino as host, as well as a musical performance from the alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins.

The episode begins with Tarantino's monologue, in which he talks about his love for the show and how he always wanted to host. He also reveals that he has turned down the opportunity to host in the past, but decided to finally take the plunge this season. The monologue features a surprise appearance from Uma Thurman, who starred in several of Tarantino's films, including Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill. Thurman joins Tarantino on stage and jokingly chastises him for not casting her in his most recent film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

The first sketch of the night is a parody of The Hateful Eight, one of Tarantino's films. In the sketch, a group of cowboys are holed up in a cabin during a blizzard, and tensions begin to rise as their true intentions are revealed. The sketch is filled with Tarantino's trademark dialogue and violence, and features a surprise cameo from Samuel L. Jackson.

Next up is a digital short featuring Kyle Mooney as a low-level drug dealer who is trying to impress Tarantino with his knowledge of his films. The sketch features several references to Tarantino's work, and culminates in a shootout which Mooney's character thinks is straight out of a Tarantino movie.

The third sketch takes place in a restaurant, where Tarantino is dining with his friend, played by Chris Rock. The two friends engage in a heated discussion about music, with Rock arguing that hip-hop is the most important form of music in the world. They are interrupted by the waiter, played by Will Ferrell, who tries to impress Tarantino by reciting lines from his movies. The sketch ends with Tarantino and Rock performing a rap about the importance of both hip-hop and the cinematic art form.

The musical guest for the night, Smashing Pumpkins, take to the stage to perform their hit song "1979" from their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Their performance is energetic and well-received by the live audience.

The next sketch features Tarantino as a guest on a talk show hosted by a young woman, played by Cheri Oteri. The sketch is a parody of Tarantino's tendency to use excessive violence and gore in his films, as the host tries to steer the conversation away from his graphic content, while Tarantino insists on talking about it.

The final sketch of the night is a parody of the reality show Cops, with Tarantino appearing as a guest star. The sketch is filled with over-the-top violence and gore, as Tarantino's character becomes increasingly unhinged. The sketch also features an appearance from Dana Carvey, who plays a cop trying to control the situation.

Overall, the episode is a fitting tribute to Quentin Tarantino's unique filmmaking style, and showcases the director's willingness to poke fun at himself. The addition of Smashing Pumpkins as the musical guest is a perfect complement to Tarantino's edgy persona, making for a memorable episode of Saturday Night Live.